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Breaking down local NBA prospects

MARCUS MORRIS, Kansas Position: Power forward Height/weight: 6-9, 235 Hometown: Philadelphia Relevant stats: 17.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 57 percent shooting last season. Went from 7.4 points as a freshman, to 12.8 as a sophomore to 17.2 as a junior.

Rick Jackson (center) demonstrated major improvement in each of his four seasons at Syracuse. (Kevin Rivoli/AP file photo)
Rick Jackson (center) demonstrated major improvement in each of his four seasons at Syracuse. (Kevin Rivoli/AP file photo)Read more

MARCUS MORRIS, Kansas

Position: Power forward

Height/weight: 6-9, 235

Hometown: Philadelphia

Relevant stats: 17.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 57 percent shooting last season. Went from 7.4 points as a freshman, to 12.8 as a sophomore to 17.2 as a junior.

Breakdown: Great end-to-end runner who regularly beats defenders down the court to get position near the hoop. Nonstop motor. Has the right kind of mean streak. Kansas was 95-14 in the twins' three seasons. Should be picked somewhere in the late lottery.

MARKIEFF MORRIS, Kansas

Position: Power forward

Height/weight: 6-10, 245

Hometown: Philadelphia

Relevant stats: 13.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 58.8 percent shooting last season. Did all that in only 24.4 minutes per game. Shot only 3-for-16 from the arc as a freshman. Was 10-for-19 as a sophomore, before shooting a solid 42.4 percent on 59 attempts as a junior.

Breakdown: Shooting range makes him the kind of "stretch" 4 that has become so popular in today's NBA. Improved dramatically last season and might be nowhere near what he will eventually become. Figures to get drafted between picks 10 and 20.

LAVOY ALLEN, Temple

Position: Power forward

Height/weight: 6-9, 225

Hometown: Morrisville, Pa.

Relevant stats: 11.6 points, 8.6 rebounds last season. His 1,147 rebounds were the most in Temple history.

Breakdown: Fran Dunphy called him the best defender he has ever coached. If he is going to make an NBA roster, it will be his basketball IQ that gets him there. His actions are so fluid that it often looks as if he is in cruise control, but he almost always finds a way to be in the right place. Either picked in second round or undrafted.

RICK JACKSON, Syracuse

Position: Power forward

Height/weight: 6-9, 240

Hometown: Philadelphia

Relevant stats: 13.1 points, 10.3 rebounds last season, 58.8 percent shooting last season.

Breakdown: He demonstrated major improvement each of his four seasons, culminating with averaging a double-double last season. He had 259 blocks over his career, so that is a skill that could also help him make a roster. Either goes in second round or undrafted.